LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

These are indeed strange and turbulent times. In the last issue, we recounted all the shiny new things we saw at Winter NAMM and could barely contain our excitement at the prospect of getting our grubby little mitts on all the new gear to review in the weeks and months ahead.

Then the world came to a stop.

Now those shiny things at NAMM seem like a distant memory. And I think how lucky we all were, the tens of thousands of us walking those convention center floors, that the virus that’s taken away our normal lives didn’t hit our shores any earlier. How different the industry would look if it had. Of course, that’s not to say the industry hasn’t already undergone a seismic shift in the past few weeks. As most of you are well aware, since your tours and recording sessions have been cancelled, we’re all trying to make sense of our new normal, including Performer. Our governor here in the State of Massachusetts has ordered us to stay at home, which means navigating the dayto-day operations of the magazine from my home office and finding myself in the new position of homeschool teacher to my two young kids.

The festivals are all cancelled for the foreseeable future.

Many new product launches have been delayed, and a number of manufacturing facilities shut

down for the time being.

Summer NAMM was just cancelled.

Then we got the news that the virus had taken John Prine.

And then there’s the constant updates on the unemployment numbers, and the stock market, the death toll…

And you could sit there and wallow in it. Because it is bad. And it’s OK to feel bad about the situation. And it’s OK to be angry and even annoyed at the trivial things we’re missing out on. Of course, I recommend you watch John Oliver’s take on just how angry and annoyed we should allow ourselves to be. If nothing else, it might give you a muchneeded laugh.

I know it sucks. Many of our careers have been upended. Sports are cancelled. Movie theaters are closed. We’re all doing our best to practice safe social distancing when all many of us want is to be close again. A routine trip to the grocery store now feels like something out of The Stand.

And yet, even though things are looking grim, I’m reminded of what Mr. Rogers used to say to me when I was a small child, when I had a hard time making sense of turbulence in the world.

“Look for the helpers,” he’d say. Even in the most tragic of circumstances, you’ll find the helpers. And the helpers are here. We see them every day. The medical professionals who work tirelessly to ensure public safety and enter a war zone every day to combat this pandemic. The first responders and others who are on the frontlines, doing everything within their powers (even with limited and sometimes non-existent resources) to save lives.

And in our own little way, the music community has its own helpers. Those who are out there, doing what they can to assist their fellow artists financially – especially those who are losing their sources of income with all that’s going on.

time in our Boston office about ten years ago, as she stopped by to pick up a stack of magazines to circulate around the city. She was fiercely independent, smart, caring and generous. And now, all these years later, I still see those attributes shining through.

Kristen is helping to organize a relief effort for Nashville-based musicians impacted by virus-related cancellations. I’ll let her describe the Compilation Box Project in her own words: “The concept is simple. 10 CDs and a printed one sheet with exclusive details from the artists. Shipped via media mail where the customer can enjoy the music within their own home! Each artist gets a cut for the sale, each artist who refers the sale gets a commission and there is some extra for an emergency fund all artists involved will have access to. For example, payouts of $100 to help with rent.”

For more info on how you can get involved, please visit tinyurl.com/compilationbox

This is just one example of artists stepping up. Another comes to us from Will Dailey, who has so far raised thousands of dollars to support the bar staffs at local Boston venues who now find themselves without jobs or sources of income due to recent closures. Will’s “Isolation Tour” recently wrapped, but other streaming benefits keep popping up.

As of this writing, there are rays of hope on the horizon. Social distancing seems to be having a positive effect in many areas, and that gives us the strength to carry on, knowing that we will get through this together. And while “normal” might not look normal for a while, or indeed ever again, we are truly amazed at all the helpers, big and small, making a difference in the lives of those affected.

On a personal note, some of you close to the mag know that I lost my grandfather in the midst of all of this. Like many grieving around the world, I was not allowed to attend his funeral. Rather, I was given access to a live video stream of his burial. Never in a million years did I think I’d be watching my grandfather’s graveside service on my phone, in my kitchen, as my grandmother and the rabbi wore protective masks around his grave, saying their final goodbyes to a man who should have been

surrounded by family in his last days.

He deserved better than that. We all do. And hopefully, someday soon, we’ll all be together again. Making music. Seeing shows. Putting on festivals. Going to the ballgame. Heck, just walking around the mall.

As you may have guessed, this issue was already prepared and mostly finalized before things got really bad, which is why you’ll see very few references to the current state of the world (beyond this letter). In the weeks ahead, it is our goal to collect as many helpful resources and stories like Kristen’s and Will’s to share with you in our next issue. If you know of anyone making a difference that we should be highlighting, please let us know. And if you are aware of additional resources that can help musicians or those in the industry affected, please share those as well so we can publicize them to folkd who might be in need of assistance.

In the meantime, I urge you all to make good choices and stay safe.

And if you’re ever in doubt, or feeling down, look for the helpers.

Benjamin Ricci They’re out there.

ABOUT US / Performer Magazine, a nationally distributed musician’s trade publication, focuses on independent musicians, those unsigned and on small labels, and their success in a DIY environment. We’re dedicated to promoting lesser-known talent and being the first to introduce you to artists you should know about. MUSIC SUBMISSIONS / We listen to everything that comes into the office. We prefer physical CDs, cassettes and vinyl over downloads. If you do not have a physical copy, send download links to editorial@performermag.com. No attachments, please. Send CDs to: Performer Magazine, Attn: Reviews, PO BOX 348, Somerville, MA 02143 CORRECTIONS / Did we make a heinous blunder, factual error or just spell your name wrong? Contact editorial@ performermag.com and let us know, cuz we’re big enough to say, “Baby, I was wrong.” EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS / In the words of our esteemed forefathers at CREEM: “NOBODY WHO WRITES FOR THIS RAG’S GOT ANYTHING YOU AIN’T GOT, at least in the way of credentials. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be sending us your stuff: reviews, features, photos, recording tips, DIY advice or whatever else you have in mind that might be interesting to our readers: independent and DIY musicians. Who else do ya know who’ll publish you? We really will...ask any of our dozens of satisfied customers. Just bop it along to us to editorial@performermag.com and see what comes back your way. If you have eyes to be in print, this just might be the place. Whaddya got to lose? Whaddya got?”

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William House

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EDITOR

Benjamin Ricci ben@performermag.com

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Andrew Boullianne, Benjamin Ricci, Brett Porter, Chris Devine, Jason Peterson,

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Solomon Khoury, Josh Goleman, Andrew Boullianne

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